Kanchi Mutt senior Pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th Shankaracharya Guru and head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, died of age-related illness at the age of 83.

Kanchi Mutt senior Pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi, who was the 69th Shankaracharya Guru and head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, passed away at the age of 83 on Wednesday. His devotees, who are shocked and saddened, are mourning his death.

Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya was suffering from some age-related ailments and was recently admitted to a private hospital in Chennai. The buzz on the social media is that he breathed his last on Wednesday morning.

Sri Jayendra Saraswathi was born as Subramanyam Mahadeva Iyer on July 18, 1935. He was nominated by his predecessor, Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, as his successor and was given the pontifical title Sri Jayendra Saraswathi on March 22, 1954.

The Kanchi Mutt runs many schools, eye clinics and hospitals. His sudden death has saddened millions of devotees across the globe. A devotee named Kailas Krish Iyer (@kailaspk) tweeted: "Sad to hear the news about swami of @KanchiMatham @haraharasankara hara har sankara jaya jaya sankara . Prayers .#jayendrasaraswathi."

#JayendraSaraswathi leaves behind a mixed legacy. His focus on starting educational institutions for poor students and his outreach programs for connecting with society were path breaking for the mutt. The Sankararaman case though indelibly marred his latter years. pic.twitter.com/KLvKDMEQFS